Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
PRE- AND EARLY COLONIAL LITERATURE
such as is vsually fed vpon by the inhabitants of the countrey, as also by vs during
the time we were there.
In the last part I will make mention generally of such other cõmodities besides,
as I am able to remember, and as I shall thinke behoofull for those that shall
inhabite, and plant there to knowe of; which specially concerne building, as also
some other necessary vses: with a briefe description of the nature and maners of
the people of the countrey.
Third Part
THE THIRD AND LAST PART, OF SVCH OTHER THINGES AS IS BE HOO-
FULL FOR THOSE WHICH SHALL PLANT AND INHABIT TO KNOW OF;
WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURE AND MANNERS OF THE PEOPLE
OF THE COUNTREY.
Of commodities for building and other necessary uses.
THOSE other things which I am more to make rehearsall of, are such as
concerne building, and other mechanicall necessarie vses; as diuers sortes of
trees for house & ship timber, and other vses els: Also lime, stone, and brick, least
that being not mentioned some might haue bene doubted of, or by some that are
malicious reported the contrary.
Okes, there are as faire, straight, tall, and as good timber as any can be, and
also great store, and in some places very great.
Walnut trees, as I haue saide before very many, some haue bene seen excellent
faire timber of foure & ue fadome, & aboue fourescore foot streight without bough.
Firre trees t for masts of ships, some very tall & great. [Rakíock]
Rakíock, a kind of trees so called that are sweet wood of which the inhabitans
that were neere vnto vs doe commonly make their boats or Canoes of the form of
trowes; only with the helpe of re, harchets of stones, and shels; we haue known
some so great being made in that sort of one tree that they haue carried well xx.
men at once, besides much baggage: the timber being great, tal, streight, soft, light,
& yet tough enough I thinke (besides other vses) to be t also for masts of ships.
Cedar, a sweet wood good for seelings, Chests, Boxes, Bedsteedes, Lutes,
Virginals, and many things els, as I haue also said before. Some of our company
which haue wandered in some places where I haue not bene, haue made certaine
armation of Cyprus which for such and other excellent vses, is also a wood of
price and no small estimation.
Maple, and also Wich-hazle; wherof the inhabitants vse to make their bowes.
Holly a necessary thing for the making of birdlime.
Willowes good for the making of weares and weeles to take sh after the
English manner, although the inhabitants vse only reedes, which because they are
so strong as also exible, do serue for that turne very well and suciently.
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